Mitsubishi's global reach. Biobased chemical firm Genomatica (San Diego) says it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitshubishi Chemical to study a potential joint venture to build Asia’s first commercial-scale biobased 1,4-butanediol (BDO) production plant. The jv would leverage Genomatica’s one-step bio-BDO technology and Mitsubishi’s expertise in BDO applications and sales, Genomatica says. Mitsubishi is among the top five BDO producers globally and uses much of its BDO internally to produce products such as polybutylene...